The Siren Read Free Page B

“You’re not dead. We aren’t angels.”
    “I don’t understand. I was dying… I felt it. I couldn’t breathe.”As she spoke the words, it all came back to me.
    With strange clarity, my mind went to that first and last second, the minute it all changed. I could remember my muscles aching from struggling in the water, my lungs feeling like they were on fire from the pressure. I heard the sound of a ghost-like voice calling from somewhere in the dark. A swirl of dark water, my mouth forced open, and numbness driving away any taste of pain. At ease in the water, I knew something was wrong.
    “Yes, you were dying,” Marilyn said. “But you asked to live, didn’t you?”
    Miaka looked shocked. “I did! I did! I begged to live, and then I heard a voice. I thought it was my ancestors calling me home.”
    Marilyn continued to try and ease her. “You have survived. You have been given a second chance, Miaka.”
    “I’m alive? Are you sure? I should feel pain, but I don’t. And you look like angels… I must be dead…” she trailed off, speaking more to herself than to us.
    “No, sweet Miaka, you survived,” I said. I liked her already. She was so small and in such desperate need. I could take care of her; she would need someone like me. I didn’t know yet if sisters took turns, but there was no way Aisling was taking Miaka from me. Marilyn and I would watch over her.
    Miaka searched our faces for a hint of a lie. Right then, when she fully looked at us, I saw the extent of her beauty. I had the feeling it had been looked over before now. She stared at us for a long time, and then seeing the genuine looks on our faces, decided we must be telling the truth.
    “I’m alive!? Oh… oh, that’s wonderful! Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!” she squealed, thinking we had somehow saved her. “Oh, please, can you help me? Can you take me to my father?”
    I couldn’t speak. I felt the longing in her voice— it was my own. Lots of details had already started disappearing, but I knew one of my brothers had survived. I longed to go peek in on his life, but I wasn’t sure if something even that small held any consequences, if just looking in would be trouble. I couldn’t risk it.
    “No,” Marilyn said simply.
    “But… but he’ll wonder where I am. I fell off the boat while I was fishing with my brothers. I can’t swim… I am usually much more careful. They didn’t see me fall, and I couldn’t breathe enough to call them. They’ll know I fell over, though. I don’t know where they are now.”
    “They’re very far away, Miaka. And you can’t go back to them. I’m sorry,” Marilyn said sweetly, but with authority.
    Miaka’s face fell. “…Why?”
    “We told you the truth when we said you had survived. You asked for your life back, and you have received it, but at a price. You have to pay for your second chance,” Marilyn said.
    “You certainly do.” Aisling had appeared behind us. She walked over sinuously, showing off her grace. “Did I miss anything?”
    “Hello, Aisling,” Marilyn said. “Meet our newest sister. This is Miaka.” Marilyn gestured down to the small girl. I saw little Miaka’s eyes race at the word “sister.”
    “Hello, Miaka,” Aisling said, looking and sounding completely unimpressed.
    “We were just about to explain her new life to her. May I continue?”
    “Why bother? She doesn’t look like she’ll make it. I’m betting on, hmm, three days. Five tops,” Aisling said, walking away. It was meant for Miaka, but it stung me.
    “Don’t let her bother you,” I whispered to Miaka. Aisling was the least of her worries. At least she should be.
    “Aisling, do something helpful and stand in the surf.” Marilyn was firm.
    “Fine,” Aisling said. She walked down to the coast to be our connection to the Sea, and we turned our attention back to our new sister.
    “Miaka,” Marilyn began, “Aisling, Kahlen, and I are sirens. Have you heard of a siren